Left to right, Martin Ferris, Adrian Heskin, Mikey Fogarty, Davy Russell (winner) and Jonathan Burke© Photo Healy Racing
Charles Byrnes owns/trains and bred Rosie Alice so the Limerick man will doubtless have been more than pleased to see his chestnut Beneficial mare sluice up under Davy Russell in the opening Online Tickets (Mares) Maiden Hurdle at Tramore.
Byrnes and Russell enjoyed many great days with a mare in the past, the dual Grade 1 scorer, Cailin Alainn, and though Rosie Alice has a way to go to match those feats, connections obviously like her well as she came in from early offers of around 16/1 to a returned 100/30.
Rosie Alice, a twice previously raced four-year-old, was never far away on this occasion, and she stamped her authority on proceedings from the second last, going away for an eighteen length verdict over Let Her Cry
"She handled the ground well and the rest of them dropped away, she just kept going. Her mother won a point-to-point and I have her at home. She is by a top sire in Beneficial," said Byrnes.
The Stewards enquired into the apparent improvement in form of Rosie Alice, trained by C.Byrnes, placed, first compared with its recent form.
Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned who stated that his charge had only run twice before today, initially in an I.N.H.S Flat race at Cork on 1st November when running a good race to finish 5th when ridden by E. O'Connell.
Subsequently the filly ran seven days later in a maiden hurdle at Limerick when again ridden by E. O'Connell. He added that she jumped off about three quarters way back in that hurdle race as instructed but she ran very green and continuously lost ground at her hurdles before passing the stands in last place and became more detached from the runners which diminished her enthusiasm resulting in her being left alone in the home straight when tailed off.
Since then the filly was schooled intensely and participated in a schooling race at Tipperary. She continued to work well at home and her final piece of work was very encouraging.
He concluded by offering a number of factors that contributed to todays success to include improved jumping, working very well, travelled and jumped well today and got a very positive ride from D.N. Russell in a weaker contest than that at Limerick.
Evidence was also heard from Andrew Shaw, Turf Club N.H. Handicapper, who stated that Rosie Alice was beaten about 63 lengths at Limerick when held up towards the rear of the field but became tailed off in the later part of the race.
In his opinion todays performance represented over 14 lbs improvement even allowing for today being a weaker contest. He concluded by stating that different riding tactics were used today with the filly racing more prominently. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanation.
(DM & EM)
